Sparring

Time flew by, and the footsteps of the changing seasons quietly passed through the courtyards of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. In the blink of an eye, another year had gone by. Under Qin Ming's almost harsh guidance, the Imperial Fighting Team's progress was plain to see—their once somewhat awkward Soul Skill coordination had become increasingly fluid, their reactions in actual combat had improved by more than a level, and even the Soul Power fluctuations around them were far more substantial than they had been a year ago.

Over the past year, the Power of Void within Wang Chuan had steadily grown through daily cultivation. Now, when he activated his domain, he could not only precisely control its range within ten meters, but also spread it wildly as he had before. The corrosive power of the Power of Void had also become stronger than ever. What benefited him even more was that, through the Sea of Consciousness, Huang Quan had imparted all the knowledge of "Roaming the Cosmos" to him—from the tragic history of Izumo Kingdom's destruction to catastrophes on other planets caused by clashes between civilizations; from the Immortal Boat Alliance's exquisite pharmacological texts, which enabled him to identify over a thousand varieties of rare flowers and herbs, to the unique weapon-refining methods of alien worlds, which could use Soul Power to temper special metals... This knowledge spanning the stars was like opening a new door for Wang Chuan, giving him a deeper understanding of "strength" and "protection."

It was also during this year that Wang Chuan officially embarked upon the path of "Void," becoming a true Voidwalker—he could shift flexibly between reality and illusion, making his movement techniques seem even more ethereal than before. He had also long since comprehended the third form of the Seven Kill Saber Technique taught by Chen Xin, "Blood Floods the Mountains and Rivers." When he swung his blade, it not only carried fierce Blade Qi, but could also wrap itself in the Power of Void, easily severing an opponent's Soul Skills.

The Imperial Fighting Team was now far stronger than before. Relying on the bloodline advantage of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Yu Tianheng had reached the peak of level twenty-nine Soul Power, only one step away from level thirty. The power of his First Soul Skill, "Thunder Dragon Claw," had increased by another thirty percent. Dugu Yan and the twin brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo had also reached level twenty-eight. Dugu Yan's Beryl Poison Purple Mist had become more toxic, while Shi Mo and Shi Mo's defensive coordination had grown increasingly seamless. Osler, Yu Feng, and Ye Lingling had steadily advanced to level twenty-six. Osler's Ghost Leopard had become faster, Yu Feng's Wind Chime Bird could sense Soul Power fluctuations in advance, and Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia could heal wounds more quickly. Wang Chuan and Wen Jingran had both reached level twenty-seven as well. Wang Chuan's Void Blade Technique had become increasingly refined, while Wen Jingran's Gluttony Shield had grown even sturdier.

As their strength increased, Qin Ming was no longer satisfied with internal sparring alone. He knew that the Continental Elite Spirit Master Tournament would be held in six years. If he wanted the children to stand out in the tournament, they had to gain more experience through real combat. Thus, the Imperial Fighting Team gradually began appearing more frequently at the Battle Arena in Spirit City. Sometimes they challenged teams from other academies, and sometimes they fought squads from the Spirit Master Guild. Every match brought them considerable gains.

That morning, Qin Ming brought everyone to the academy's main training grounds once more. Their opponent today was another academy team preparing to participate in this year's Continental Spirit Master Tournament—the Star Brilliance Team. It was said that most of this team's members were children of nobility. Their Soul Power Levels were not much different from those of the Imperial Fighting Team, and their captain, the strongest among them, was level twenty-eight. However, Qin Ming had long heard that this team was nothing more than a Silver-like Wax Spearhead. They neglected actual combat and relied entirely on resources to pile up their Soul Power.

"Stay sharp. Even if the opponent is average, you must take them seriously. Every match is an opportunity to refine your skills," Qin Ming instructed in a low voice from the edge of the field.

Wang Chuan and the others nodded and released their Martial Souls. The long saber Nothingness, patterned with violet markings, glimmered faintly in Wang Chuan's hand. Pale blue lightning coiled around Yu Tianheng, while the phantom of Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul appeared behind her... The Star Brilliance Team on the other side also quickly released their Martial Souls, but they seemed somewhat flustered. Several members were even furtively straightening their clothes, their eyes full of carelessness.

"Begin!" At the referee's command, the captain of the Star Brilliance Team—a young man whose Martial Soul was the Golden Patterned Leopard—charged at Yu Tianheng first. "First Soul Skill, Leopard Shadow Assault!" he shouted. His figure flashed as he pounced toward Yu Tianheng in a faint golden glow, failing to notice the cold smirk at the corner of Yu Tianheng's mouth.

"Cheap tricks." Instead of retreating, Yu Tianheng advanced. The lightning around him surged explosively. "First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!" A pale blue phantom dragon claw instantly condensed and collided with the Golden Patterned Leopard's claw. With a dull bang, the Star Brilliance captain was sent flying. Clutching his arm and grimacing in pain, he had clearly suffered badly.

Meanwhile, Dugu Yan lightly waved her fingers, and pale violet poisonous mist quietly spread toward the Star Brilliance Team's members. Their Support System Spirit Master hurriedly released the Soul Skill "Light Shield," trying to block the mist, but the shield was so fragile it could not withstand a single blow. Osler slipped behind the Support System Spirit Master like a ghost and shattered the Light Shield with a Leopard Shadow Stab, forcing the Spirit Master back several steps in the process.

Wang Chuan stood at the edge of the battlefield without rushing to act. His gaze swept across the field, and he quickly discovered the Star Brilliance Team's weakness: there was no coordination between them. Each fought on their own, and some even instinctively retreated when attacked instead of covering their teammates. Seeing Wen Jingran surrounded by two Star Brilliance Team members, Wang Chuan finally moved. He lightly tapped the ground and flickered to Wen Jingran's side like a phantom. His saber never left its sheath; with a gentle upward flick of the scabbard, he deflected one opponent's attack.

"Thanks, Wang Chuan!" Wen Jingran breathed a sigh of relief and immediately activated the Gluttony Shield, blocking the other member's attack.

The Star Brilliance Team member whose attack Wang Chuan had deflected became furious with embarrassment. "You dare look down on me?! Second Spirit Ability, Stone Shattering Fist!" Earth-yellow Soul Power gathered around his fist as he swung it at Wang Chuan. Wang Chuan's eyes remained calm. He lightly turned his wrist, and the scabbard, carrying the Power of Void, gently struck the opponent's fist. The young man felt a strange force spread from his fist. The Soul Power in his body instantly became sluggish, his punch lost all strength, and he staggered back several steps with a face full of shock.

"Th-this... what kind of power is this?" he muttered. Clearly, he had never encountered the Power of Void before.

Wang Chuan did not answer. Instead, he turned and charged at another Star Brilliance Team member attempting to sneak up on Ye Lingling. Seeing Wang Chuan coming, the young man went pale and turned to run, only for Yu Feng's "North Wind Drunken Moon" to entangle his feet. Wang Chuan seized the opportunity to step forward and lightly tap the man's shoulder with his scabbard. As though all his strength had been drained away, the young man collapsed to the ground and lost his ability to fight.

In less than half an incense stick's time, the Star Brilliance Team had already fallen apart. Their captain was suppressed so thoroughly by Yu Tianheng's lightning that he could barely raise his head. Two members had been defeated by Wang Chuan, their Support System Spirit Master was restrained by Osler, and the remaining few began to consider retreating after seeing the situation turn against them.

"I... we surrender!" The Star Brilliance captain finally could not hold on any longer and shouted loudly.

The referee immediately declared the match over. Qin Ming stepped forward, looked at the Imperial Fighting Team, and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Your coordination is more seamless than last time. But remember, today's opponents were average. If you encounter truly powerful enemies, you must never let your guard down."

The education committee members watching from the other side were equally exhausted. They could neither hit nor scold these noble students, and the students showed no desire to improve in their studies either. They truly had no idea what they had come to the academy for.